HARARE - Minister of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs Eric Matinenga has warned that there would be another government of national unity after next elections, most likely next year, because security chiefs won’t let go of power.

Matinenga said Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party was certain to win the next elections, but taking power remained another story.

He said Zanu PF’s desire to see President Robert Mugabe die in office, as well as the continued military dominance on state affairs could derail smooth transfer of power to Tsvangirai if the former trade unionist won the election.

“Looking at the crystal ball, what I see at the horizon will dampen some of your enthusiasm and spirits,” Matinenga told people gathered for a United States embassy discussion on Refining the Justice System in Zimbabwe Lessons from Kenya.

“It is not a nice picture to look at. Zimbabwe is heading into another unity government after the next elections,” said Matinenga, a Tsvangirai appointee to the coalition government.

Bitter rivals Mugabe and Tsvangirai formed a coalition in February 2009 after the African Union rejected a disputed presidential election runoff in June 2008 and tasked regional grouping Sadc to oversee the negotiation of a coalition.

Tsvangirai, who had won first round voting, had boycotted the runoff citing violence that he claimed killed at least 200 of his supporters.

Churches, civil society and election observers blamed the military and Zanu PF gangs for the violence, an allegation Mugabe denies.

Policy differences have left the coalition dysfunctional, with both Mugabe and Tsvangirai agreeing on the need for an election.

Mugabe, turning 88 next month and reportedly suffering ill-health,  wants the election this year.

But Tsvangirai and Sadc say elections can only be held after the completion of democratic reforms, including a new constitution as agreed under the power sharing Global Political Agreement.

“How can one explain Zanu PF’s rush for elections with or without credible reforms, an election anyone in that party will tell you they have no chance in hell of winning,” queried Matinenga, a veteran lawyer before joining politics.

“The only logical conclusion one can draw is they want another chaotic election whose outcome will obviously be disputed and then we will be drawn into another long winding negotiation routine that will result in another inclusive transitional authority,” Matinenga said.

The military, which held fort after Mugabe’s March 2008 election defeat continued enjoying vast powers, an issue not helped by Mugabe’s refusal to implement security sector reforms meant to depoliticise state security institutions, Matinenga said.

“You have Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa declaring that there will be no security sector reform in Zimbabwe yet the country’s constitution through Amendment 19, which gave birth to the current arrangement, is very explicit.

“The constitution is very clear that there shall be need to reform state apparatus so that they conform to the new dispensation and tenets of a democratic state,” he said.

Matinenga said he had been disappointed by some of the country’s judges who have allowed themselves to be compromised.

“It is disheartening to say the least to see a judge who has benefited from the land reform exercise sitting on farm “A” agreeing to sit down and hear a matter in which his neighbour on farm “B” is being tried for unlawful occupation.

“It is the worst conduct for any judge to be manipulated in the manner that our judiciary has allowed itself to be,” said Matinenga.

By Daily News